Partition



M. B. ROYCE PARTITION July 7, 1970 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 19, 1967 INVENTUR ATTORNEYS July 7, 1970 M. B.-R'oYcE 3519,191

PARTITION Filed June 19, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet :l

MARK BROYCE w k lV/ ATTORF-JEYS United States Patent 3,519,191 PARTITION Mark B. Royce, Ho-Ho-Kus, N.J., assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 542,278, Apr. 13, 1966. This application June 19, 1967, Ser. No. 646,814

Int. Cl. B65d /48 U.S. Cl. 229-42 23 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a novel partition structure of the type adapted to be positioned in a container for separating articles packaged therein. The partition includes a pair of base panels to each of which is joined first and second partition forming panels disposed generally normally to each other. The base panels are pro vided with means for interlocking the same in a generally common plane while opposite edge portions of the base panels are provided with upstanding flanges. The flanges normally tend to spring away from each other for grippingly engaging interior surfaces of a container in which the partition is housed. Means are also provided adjacent the flanges for interloc-kingly securing together like constructed partitions in stacked relationship.

This is a continuation-in-part application of co-pending, commonly assigned application Ser. No. 542,278 filed Apr. 13, 1966, now abandoned.

Partitions of the type to which this invention is directed are generally well known but, for the most part, such conventional partitions include various shortcomings most notable of which are the wasted material involved in manufacturing the partitions and the difficulty in setting-up the partitions prior to inserting the same in an associated container. Other disadvantages of such partitions are the tendency thereof to unfold or collapse when in use, and the inability of the partitions to remain in precise interlocked relationship when in superimposed stacked relationship in an associated container.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to pro vide a novel partition which overcomes the above and numerous other similar disadvantages of conventional partitions.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a novel partition formed from a single piece of material which is foldable to define a pair of base panels, a first partition panel joined to each of the base panels along first associated fold lines, the first partition panels being disposed in generally upstanding normal relationship relative to the base panels, a second partition panel joined to each of the first partition panels along second associated fold lines, and the first and second fold lines being in angular relationship relative to each other whereby the first and second partition panels are similarly disposed in angular relationship to each other to define article-receiving chambers when the partition is inserted in a conventional container.

A further object of this invention is'to provide a novel partition of the type immediately above-described which includes cooperative interlocking means for maintaining the base panels in adjacent interlocked relationship in a substantially common plane normal to the first partition panels whereby inadvertent or accidental collapsing of the partition is precluded.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel partition of the type heretofore set forth wherein each base panel includes an upstanding side flange which is adapted to yieldingly engage the side walls of a con- "ice tainer in which the partition is housed to resist the removal of the partition from the container.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel partition of the type just described in which the flanges may also be of a height generally identical to the first and second partition panels whereby superimposed partitions are fully supported in stacked relationship by the upstanding flanges and the first and second partition panels of lowermost generally identically constructed partitions, and means are preferably provided adjacent the intersection of each base panel and its associated flange to facilitate the interlocking engagement between stacked partitions.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel blank which is adapted to be set-up to form a partition of the type heretofore described.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a novel partition blank of this invention-with a portion thereof broken away for clarity, and illustrates the generally uniform-and regular configuration of the blank.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of a partition formed by appropriately folding a modification of the blank of FIG. 1, and illustrates a plurality of upstanding partition panels and end flanges of the partition.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view with parts broken away for clarity of a plurality of the partitions in stacked relationship, and illustrates the partitions housed in a container.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 4-4 of FIG. 3, and more clearly illustrates the manner in which the partition panels and flanges of lowermost partitions support immediately adjacent partitions.

FIG. 5 is a highly enlarged fragmentary side elevational view taken generally along line 5-5 of FIG. 4, and illustrates the manner in which the stacked partitions are maintained in interlocked stacked relationship.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 6-6 of FIG. 5, and more clearly illustrates the interlocking relationship between the stacked partitions.

A novel partition or partition structure constructed in accordance with this invention is best illustraed in FIG. 2 of the drawings, and is generally designated by the reference numeral 10. The partition 10 is formed from the partition blank which is best illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings and is designated by the reference numeral15.

The partition blank 15 is preferably constructed from paperstock material, such as corrugated board, but can be formed from similar rigid foldable material. The partition blank 15 illustrated in FIG. 1 is formed from corrugated board and includes an upper sheet 5, a lower sheet 6 and an intermediate corrugated sheet or board 7. The corrugated sheet 7 is adhesively joined to the sheets 5, 6 in a conventional manner, and the flutes (unnumbered) of the corrugations of the sheet 7 run from left-toright (or right-to-left) as is clearly illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings.

The partition blank 15 is of a generally rectangular configuration and includes parallel end edges 20, 21 and parallel side edges 22, 23. A portion of the blank 15 is removed defining generally a U-shaped notch 24 opening outwardly through the edge 20 while a similar generally U-shaped notch 25 opens outwardly of the edge 21.

The partition blank includes two partition forming panels, generally designated by the refernce numerals 26, 27 which are located on opposite sides of a center line 28 of the blank which is midway between the edges 22, 23 and normal to the edges 20, 21.

The partition forming panel 26 inclues a first base forming panel 30 defined by an interrupted fold line 16, portions of the edges 20, 21, a fold line 31, a severance line 32 and a fold line 33. The fold lines 31, 33 are in perfect alignment while the severance line 32 is offset to the right of the fold lines 31, 33, as viewed in FIG. 1 of the drawings. A portion of the material of the base forming panel 30 is removed to define an opening 34. The base forming panel 30 also includes a tab 35 defined by a generally inverted C-shaped severance portion 36 of the severance line 32. The tab 35 projects in a direction toward the center line 28. A similar tab 37 defined by a generally inverted L-shaped severance line 38 forms an integral extension of the base forming panel 30 and projects toward the center line 28. The function of the opening 34 and the tabs 35, 37 will be apparent hereafter.

A first partition forming anel portion 40 is joined to the base forming panel 30 along the fold line 31. The panel portion 40 is defined by the fold line 31, a portion of the edge 20, a fold line 41, a severance line 42 and a line 43 which is both a severance line and a fold line in a sense that it is defined by severing only the sheets 5, 7 but not the sheet 6. The line 43 and other similar lines will hereinafter be referred to as severance-fold lines. A generally semi-circular notch 44 is also formed in the panel portion 40 opening toward the center line 28.

A second partition forming panel portion 45 is joined to the panel portion 40 along the fold line 41. The panel portion 45 is defined by the fold line 41, the severance line 32, the severance line 42, and a severance line 46 spaced from an generally parallel to the fold line 41. The panel portion 45 is adapted to be folded about the fold line 41 to a position disposed at right angles to the panel portion 40, as will be more apparent hereafter.

A bridging or connecting panel portion 47 is defined by the severance line 46, the fold line 33, the inverted L- shaped severance or cut line 38, a portion of the edge 21, and a severance-fold line 48 which is disposed along the center line 28 of the blank 15. The severance-fold line 48 is formed in the manner heretofore described i.e., by cutting entirely through the sheets 5, 7 but not the sheet 6.

The partition forming panel 27 is generally identical to the panel 26 and includes another base forming panel 50'. The base forming panel 50 is of a generally rectangular configuration and is defined by an interrupted fold line, generally designated by the reference numeral 17, portions of the edges 20, 21, a fold line 51, a severance line 52 and a fold line 53. The fold lines 51, 53 are in alignment while the severance line 52 is offset toward the center line 28. An apertured opening 54 is formed in the base forming panel 50 in alignment with the tab 35 formed in the base forming panel 30. A generally C- shaped severance portion 55 of the severance line 52 defines a tab 56 which projects toward the center line 28 and is in alignment with the opening 34 of the base panel portion 30. A similar tab 57 is defined by a generally L- shaped severance line 58 and the tab 58 is in alignment with the notch 24.

Another first partition forming panel portion 60 of a generally rectangular configuration is joined to the base panel 50 along the fold line 51. The panel 60 is defined by the fold line 51, a portion of the edge 21, the severance-fold line 48, the severance line 42 and a fold line 61. A generally semi-circular notch 62 is formed in the panel 50 opening toward the center line 28.

A generally rectangular panel forming portion 63 is defined by the fold line 61, the severance line 42, a severance line 64 and the severance line 52. The panel 63 is adapted to be folded to a position normal to the panel 60 about the fold line 61, as will be more apparent hereafter.

Another bridging panel portion 65 is joined between the base panel 50 and the panel 40, and is defined by the severance line 64, the severance-fold line 43, a portion of the edge 20, the L-shaped severance line 58 and the fold line 53.

The base panels 30, 50 are joined respectively along the interrupted fold lines 16, 17 to generally rectangular lateral flange forming panels 66, 67. The flange forming panel 66 is defined by the edge 23, portions of the edges 20, 21 and the interrupted fold line 16 while the flange forming panel 67 is defined by the edge 22, portions of the edges 20, 21 and the interrupted fold line 17. It is to be also noted that the distance between the fold lines 16, 17 and the adjacent edges 23, 22, respectively, is substantially equal to the distance between the center line 28 and each of the fold lines 31, 51 or stated another way, any normal distance between the pairs of lines 33, 48; 48, 51; 32, 42; 42, 51; 31, 42; 42, 52; 31, 43; and 43, 53. This dimensioning functions to impart a height to the flanges 66, 67 corresponding substantially identically to the heights of the partition panels 40', 45, 60 and 63, as will be more clearly apparent hereafter.

The interrupted fold lines 16, 17 are interrupted by generally shallow C-shaped notches 68 which define interlocking means in the form of tabs 69 adapted to maintain a plurality of identically stacked partitions in interlocked relationship as will appear more fully hereafter.

The partition blank 15 is set-up to form the partition 10 by preferably first folding the partition forming panels 26, 27 into overlying relationship along the severancefold lines 43, 48 in the manner illustrated in the latternoted application. In this position the panel 40 generally overlies the panels 63, 65 while the panel 60 underlies the panels 45 and 48.

The base panels 30, 50 are then folded along the respective fold lines 31, 33 and 53, 51 until the base panels 30, 50 are substantially in a common plane (FIG. 2). During this folding the tabs 37, 35, 56 and 57 are inserted in the notch 25, the openings 54, 34 and the notch 24, respectively. The base panels 30, 50 rebound slightly in the direction of the headed arrows in FIG. 2 of the drawings under the influence of forces built-up in the material along the fold lines 31, 33, 51 and 53. This slight rebounding of the base panels 30, 50 causes the tabs 37, 35, 56 and 53 to pivot slightly upwardly as viewed in FIG. 2 of the drawings which brings the tabs into frictional locking engagement with the opposing overlying edge 42 of the panels 40, 60. Due to this interlock the base panels 50, 30 are maintained in a genearlly common plane normal to the panels 60, 40 and collapsing of the partition is precluded.

At this time the panels 40, 45 and 60, 63 are generally in planes parallel to the center line of the partition, and it is only necessary to fold the panels 45, 63 along the respective fold lines 41, 61 and the panels 66, 67 along the respective fold lines 16, 17 to complete the erection of the blank 15 to the final set-up condition of the partition 10, which is fully illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings.

The partition 10, along with similar partitions is inserted into a conventional container, such as a paperstock container 70 (FIG. 3). The container 70 conventionally includes a plurality of bottom closure flaps foldable to define a bottom panel 71, a pair of upstanding end panels 72, 73 and a pair of side panels 74, 75. Closure flaps 76 to 79 are joined by fold lines (unnumbered) to the respective panels 72 through 75. When the partitions are inserted into the container 70 in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings, each partition panel 10 defines with the panels of the container 70 four articlereceiving compartments 81 through 84. Suitable articles A (FIG. 4) such as fruit or vegetables packaged in shallow baskets are housed in each of the chambers 81 through 84 with adjacent articles at one level being prevented from communicating with one another by the panels 40,

45, 60 and 63. Uppermost ones of the articles A are supported in tiered relationship by the base panels 30, 50 while the base panels are in turn supported by the uppermost edges of the panels 40, 45, 47, 60, 63 and 65. The uppermost edges 23, 22 of the respective flanges 66, 67 also function to support each superimposed partition in the manner clearly illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings, it being noted that the flanges 66, 67 may be of a height equal to that of the panels 40, 45, 60 and 63 or approximately one-half such height as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. In each case the natural resiliency of the material from which the partitions are formed inherently biases the flanges 66, 67 away from each other and into engagement with the panels 74, 75 of the container 70. This engagement between the flanges and the panels 74, 75 retains each partition in its desired position upon being inserted into the container 70 and each partition thereby resists inadvertent or accidental upward unseating movement.

It should also be particularly noted that immediately adjacent upper and lower ones of the stacked partitions are in interlocked relationship by virtue of the interlocking engagement between the downwardly directed tabs 69 of the flanges 66, 67 with the uppermost terminal edges 23, 22 of the flanges of a lowermost partition. This interlocking action occurs because the edges of the sheets 5, 6 at the tabs 69 cannot be perfectly aligned with the sheets 5, 6 of the edges 23, 22 of a lowermost partition and the misalignment maintains one or the other of the sheets 5, 6 in the area of the tabs 69 inboard or outboard of underlying sheets and in slight overlapped interlocking relationship therewith, as is best illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings. In the latter-noted figures the sheet 6 adjacent the illustrated tab 69 of the uppermost partition is shown positioned slightly outboard of and in overlapped interlocked relationship with the sheet 6 of the lowermost partition to effect the interlocking heretofore noted. However, it is pointed out that the partitions can be equally well interlocked by a similar inboard overlap between the sheets 5 of the stacked partitions as well as as alternating inboard and outboard overlapping due to the natural flexibility of the partitions. It should also be noted that in the absence of overlapping interlock just described a frictional interlock is achieved in the absence of such overlapping because of the frictional engagement between the exposed flutes of the corrugated sheets 7- which additional functions to prevent the flanges 66, 67 of a lowermost partition from slipping between the side panels in the flanges 66, 6-7 of an uppermost partition in the full-depth partition structures of FIGS. 3 and 4 in which the flanges 66, 67 are equal in height to the panels 40, 45, 16 and 63.

When the container 70 has been packaged in the manner described the flaps are then closed and sealed, and the container may then be stored or shipped.

While preferred forms and arrangement of parts have been shown in illustrating the invention, it is to be clearly understood that various changes in details and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claimed subject matter.

I claim:

1. A blank of the type particularly adapted to be set-up to form a partition structure comprising a generally flat planar member having side and end edges defining the configuration thereof, said member including a partition forming panel, said partition forming panel including at least first and second partition forming panel portions, said first panel portion being joined to a base forming panel of said member along a first fold line and being adapted for folding movement to a position in angular relationship to the base forming panel of said member, said second panel portion being jointed to said first panel portion along a second fold line, said second fold line being disposed substantially centrally of said flat planar member and remote from said edges, the length of said second panel portion corresponding generally to the width of said base forming panel, and said first and second fold lines being in angularly disposed relationship whereby said first and second panel portions are relatively foldable about said second fold line to a position at which the first and second panel portions are in angular relationship to each other.

2. The blank as defined in claim 1 wherein said member includes a second partition forming panel substantially identical to said first-mentioned partition panel.

3. The blank as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second fold lines are normal to each other.

4. The blank as defined in claim 1 wherein said first fold line is disposed at one side of a center line of said member, said member further includes a second partition forming panel substantially identical to said first-mentioned partition forming panel, and the first fold line of said second partition forming panel is disposed at another side of the center line opposite said one side.

5. The blank as defined in claim 1 wherein said partition forming panel is generally disposed at one side of a center line of said member, and a bridging panel is joined by fold lines to said partition forming panel and to the remainder of said member at another side of the center line opposite said one side.

6. The blank as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second fold lines are generally disposed at one and the same side of a center line of said member, said member further includes a second partition forming panel substantially identical to said first-mentioned partition forming panel, and the first and second fold lines of the second partition forming panel are disposed at another side of the center line opposite said one side.

7. The blank as defined in claim 1 wherein a center line divides said member into a pair of base forming panels include cooperative interlocking means for maintaining the blank in the set-up condition thereof.

8. The blank as defined in claim 1 wherein said member includes opposite edge portions, and means for facilitating the folding of said edge portions to a position of substantial spaced parallelism to each other.

9. The blank as defined in claim 1 wherein said planar member includes opposite edge portions, means for facilitating the folding of said edge portions to a position of substantial spaced parallelism to each other, and said first and second panel portions and said edge portions are of substantially equal heights in the set-up condition of said blank.

10. The blank as defined in claim 1 wherein said mem ber includes opposite edge portions, means for facilitating the folding of said edge portions to a position of substantial spaced parallelism to each other, said blanks are constructed from corrugated board, and means are provided adjacent said facilitating means for interlockingly securing the blank in the set-up condition thereof with terminal edges of opposite edge portions of an underlying generally identically constructed blank.

11. A blank of the type particularly adapted to be set-up to form a partition structure comprising a generally flat planar member, said member including a partition forming panel, said partition forming panel including at least first and second partition forming panel portions, said first panel portion being joined to the remainder of said member along a first fold line and being adapted for folding movement to a position in angular relationship to the remainder of said member, said second panel portion being joined to said first panel portion along a second fold line, said first and second fold lines being in angularly disposed relationship whereby said first and second panel portions are relatively foldable about said second fold line to a position at which the first and second panel portions are in angular relationship to each other, said member further including a second partition forming panel substantially identical to said first-mentioned partition forming panel, the first fold lines of said first and second partition forming panels being disposed at opposite sides of said center line and in generally parallel relationship to each other, and the second fold lines of said first and second partition forming panels being similarly disposed at opposite sides of said center line and in generally aligned relationship to each other.

12. The blank as defined in claim 3 wherein said first fold line is disposed at one side of a center line of said member, said member further includes a second partition forming panel substantially identical to said first-mentioned partition forming panel, and the first fold line of said second partition forming panel is disposed at another side of the center line opposite said one side.

13. The blank as defined in claim 3 wherein said first and second fold lines are generally disposed at one and the same sides of a center line of said member, said member further includes a second partition forming panel substantially identical to said first-mentioned partition forming panel, and the first and second fold lines of the second partition forming panel are disposed at another side of th center line opposite said one side- 14. The blank as defined in claim 7 wherein said cooperative interlocking means include interlockable tabs of one of said base forming panels adapted for interlocking engagement with openings of another of said base forming panels, and said tabs and openings are in alignment along a line generally normal to the center line of the member.

15. A partition structure of the type particularly adapted to be positioned in a container for separating articles packaged therein comprising a pair of base panels, a first partition panel joined to each base panel along first associated fold lines, said first fold lines being in generally parallel relationship, said first partition panels being disposed in generally upstanding normal relationship relative to said base panels, a second partition panel joined to each of said first partition panels along second associated fold lines disposed generally centrally of said structure, and said first and second fold lines being in angular relationship to each other whereby said first and second partition panels are similarly disposed in angular relationship to each other.

16. The partition structure as defined in claim 15 wherein each of said base panels includes an associated edge portion, and said edge portions are disposed in parallel upstanding relationship relative to each other.

17. The partition structure as defined in claim 15 wherein each of said base panels includes an associated edge portion, said edge portions are disposed in generally upstanding parallel relationship, said partition structure is constructed from corrugated board, and means are provided adjacent said edge portion for interlockingly securing the edge portions of said partition structure with 11nderlying terminal edges of the edge portions of an underlying generally identically constructed partition structure.

1 8. The partition structure as defined in claim 15 wherein said first and second fold lines are normal to each other.

19. The partition structure as defined in claim 15 wherein said base panels include cooperative interlocking means for maintaining the base panels in adjacent interlocked relationship in a substantially common plane normal to said first partition panels.

20. The partition structure as defined in claim 15 wherein said partition structure includes a center line, said first partition panels are disposed generally along said center line, said base panels include free edge portions in opposed relationship along said center line, and a bridging panel is joined by a fold line to an uppermost edge of the first partition panel of one of said base panels and to one of said opposed edge portions of another of said panels.

21. The partition structure as defined in claim 18 wherein said partition structure includes a center line, said first partition panels are disposed generally along said center line said base panels include free edge portions in opposed relationship along said center line, and the panel is joined by fold lines to an uppermost edge of the first partition panel of one of the base panels and to one of said opposed edge portions of another of said base panels.

22. The partition structure as defined in claim 15 wherein said partition structure and a plurality of identical partition structures are disposed in generally stacked relationship in a container, said container includes a body closed at a lower end portion thereof by a bottom wall, said firstmentioned partition structure is disposed lowermost in said container and supported by said bottom wall, and the remaining partition structures are positioned in superimposed relationship above said first-mentioned partition structure.

23. A pad and partition member comprising a first pad section, a first partition section extending normally to said first pad section and being hingedly connected thereto, a second partition section hingedly connected to the edge of said first partition section opposite said pad section and being contiguous with said first partition section, a second pad section hingedly connected to the edge of said second partition section opposite its connection with the first partition section, said second pad section being in alignment with said first pad section, a first transverse partition section hingedly attached to said first partition section extending normally thereto, the outer edge of said first transverse partition section being substantially in alignment with the outer edge of said first pad section, said first partition section having an aperture adjacent its hinged connection with said first transverse partition section, said aperture being equal in size to said first transverse partition section, a second transverse partition section hingedly attached to said second partition and extending substantially normal thereto, said second transverse partition having an outer edge substantially in alignment with the outer edge of said second pad section, said second partition having an aperture adjacent its hinged connection with the second transverse partition, said aperture belng of a size equal to said second transverse partition.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,345,711 7/1920 Shapiro 229-42 1,860,567 5/1932 Boeye 229-15 2,596,205 5/ 1952 Buttery 229-28 3,236,433 2/1966- Barrett et al 229-15 3,263,894 8/1966 Matson 229-15 3,285,493 11/1966 Coe et al. 229-27 FOREIGN PATENTS 903,931 8/ 1962 Great Britain.

DAVIS T. MOORHEAD, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 229-15 

